BMW i8 hybrid changed its styles to a retro-modern sports car

Tried to Come Back Maybe you still remember the BMW i8 hybrid sports car which after nearly six years of production, it was officially retired in April 2020. And until now BMW has no plans to build any successor. Of course, for those of you who have already fallen in love with the i8, this is bad news. 

The Taraschi Berardo is a retro-modern hybrid coupe designed by Andrea Quartieri which was mentioned as a tribute to Berardo Taraschi and to mark the return of a small Italian racing squads named Squadra Corse Taraschi in motorsports. (Picture from: alVolante)

Hold on and don't worry, there's still a little good news for you, the BMW i8 sports car is still given a chance to live, and reemerged in a classic style to mark the return of a small Italian racing squads named Squadra Corse Taraschi in motorsports.

The Taraschi Berardo built based on the chassis of this modern hybrid coupe BMW i8. (Picture from: Otosia)

The mentioned car is designed by Andrea Quartieri, was later given the name Taraschi Berardo, which was mentioned as a tribute to Berardo Taraschi. For those of you who don't know, of course you will immediately ask, who is he? For your information, he is an Italian businessman who had started his career at a young age as a racer after establishing a motorcycle repair shop.

1953 Giaur 750 Sport Champion from Team 1-Off, one of Taraschi's most successful competition cars, and taken by the Taraschi Berardo maker as the inspiration sources. (Picture from: Motor1)

During the 2nd world war his motorbike workshop was forced to close and after the war was over it was reopened. But at the time he has a new interest in cars that makes him then shift the focus and studied all aspects (mechanics and frames). In short, since then he went on to develop and product a series of sports and competition cars during the 1950s and 1960s through his company named Officina Meccanica Berardo Taraschi.

The Taraschi Berardo bodywork featured with rounded front and rear fenders, prominent curved lines on the hood, oval-shaped headlights, redesigned grille, and a longer body. (Picture from: Taraschi)

The naming of the car after the Italian businessman has also reportedly been approved and initiated by Berardo's son, Tazio Taraschi, and even the project is supported by the Squadra Corse Taraschi, a team known to have provided a lot of advice and technical assistance including spare parts to the automotive collectors who owned the original Berardo Taraschi made cars.

To get its current form as the Taraschi Berardo, the BMW i8 should be completely overhauled, leaving only its dramatic butterfly-style doors. (Picture from: alVolante)

As we all know, the BMW i8's latest reincarnation is debuted at the Automobile Museum of Turin in October 7, 2020, emerged as a retro modern hybrid sports coupe. Well, to transform into a new figure of Taraschi Berardo, the donor car must be customized and refurbished by combining retro style with modern plug-in hybrid technology.

Then inside the Taraschi Berardo's cabin, we can see the expanse of luxurious interior decorated with layers of high-quality wood and leather. (Picture from: alVolante)

By design, this i8's latest reincarnation is inspired by the 1953 Giaur 750 Sport Champion from Team 1-Off, one of Taraschi's most successful competition cars ever made. To that end, the BMW i8 donor car should be completely overhauled with aluminum body panels made by hand over the donor car chassis.Therefore the new car bodywork featured with rounded front and rear fenders, prominent curved lines on the hood, oval-shaped headlights, redesigned grille, and a longer body. So that in the end, You will not look at all the initial form of the BMW i8.

Not only that, the BMW i8's digital dashboard, air vents, and 8.8-inch screen have been retained as well, but the center console has been redesigned. (Picture from: DrivingYourDream)

However, there is one original detail of the BMW i8 is preserved, ie the dramatic butterfly-style doors. Then inside the cabin, we can see the expanse of luxurious interior decorated with layers of high-quality wood and leather. Not only that, the i8's digital dashboard, air vents, and 8.8-inch screen have been retained as well, but the center console has been redesigned.

The Taraschi Berardo has got an output increase of up to 420 hp, even if desired the automaker can also increase the power to 470 hp and 520 hp. (Picture from: alVolante)

While the original BMW i8 produced 374 hp spewed out by its hybrid powertrain (consisting of a turbocharged 1.5 liter inline-3 engine coupled with electric motor), the new car has got an output increase of up to 420 hp. Even if desired the automaker can also increase the power to 470 hp and 520 hp.

It's not known how many cars will be made, the automaker only says will make it in small numbers editions. Just like other premium hand-built cars, this i8's retro style customized sports car also has a high price tag. For your information, the Taraschi Berardo is said to be priced around €800,000 (about $940,473), which is almost seven times more expensive than the standard BMW i8. Wow!! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TARASCHI | CARBUZZ | CLASSICDRIVER | DRIVINGYOURDREAM | TUNINGBLOG.EU | ALVOLANTE | MOTOR1 ]

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